Florida Amateur: Jimmy Ellis shoots final round 8-under to secure the comeback win
Jimmy Ellis (Florida State Golf Association Photo)
In a thrilling turn of events, Jimmy Ellis raises the trophy as the victor of our 107th Amateur Championship. Ellis secured a 5-stroke lead and delivered an impressive score of 64, culminating in a week-long total of 16-under par.
The Atlantic Beach native charged forward this Championship Sunday, despite his journey back to Jacksonville the previous night for his daughters dance recital. The 3-hour drive only phased him on the first hole where he would card his only bogey of the day. Ellis would see nine birdies, five on the front, and four on the back. In true champion fashion, Ellis birdied hole 18 and walked into the clubhouse as a champion.
Jason Duff, who was on top at day's end yesterday came in 1-under on the front nine, but faced adversity on the back, carding two bogeys and one double bogey. Duff would finish his day in a three-way tie for second place. Christian Figueredo, who held solo second place after round three would wash away his five birdies with five bogeys, finishing his day at even and end in 5th place.
Brett Schell, an Ole Miss golf alum, bounced back from yesterdays 72 and surged five spots up the leaderboard. After an eagle on hole seven, Schell came in with a 67 to finish T-2. Tyler Gulliksen of Flagler Beach saw a bogey free round to also finish T-2.
With an unfortunate start on the back nine, John Daly saw a bogey on the 10th hole and proceeded to find water to make a double-bogey on the 11th. Daly finished T-12 in his first Amateur Championship. Another one of the twelfth spot ties was occupied by our defending Champion, Marc Dull, who finished with a 73-69-67-72.
Ellis finished the championship with a 69-70-69-64 for a total of 272 and looks forward to his exception into the U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club (Chaska, Minnesota). When asked if Ellis has ever played in a USGA event before, he answered, “I have. One U.S. Amateur and three Mid Ams.”
Although he underscored his ability when asked about his probability of being victorious in the U.S. Amateur Championship, Ellis delivered a magnificent performance here at both Quail Valley Golf Club and Bent Pine Golf Club that will forever be etched into history.
ABOUT THE Florida State Amateur
Started in 1914, the Amateur Championship is
the oldest continuous sporting event in the
state of Florida. The field will include exempt
players and players who have qualified
through
18 holes of stroke play at one of the qualifying sites.
The Championship features a field of 168
players split alternately on two golf courses
the first two days. The field is reduced to the
low 70 and ties after the first two rounds to
play an additional 36 holes of stroke play.
View Complete Tournament Information